Thursday 18 May 1665

Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle, where we did much business, and I with good content to myself; among other things we did examine Nixon and Stanesby, about their late running from two Dutchmen;1 for which they are committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleete to be tried. A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for plain cowardice on Nixon’s part. Thence with the Duke of Albemarle in his coach to my Lord Treasurer, and there was before the King (who ever now calls me by my name) and Lord Chancellor, and many other great Lords, discoursing about insuring of some of the King’s goods, wherein the King accepted of my motion that we should; and so away, well pleased. To the office, and dined, and then to the office again, and abroad to speak with Sir G. Carteret; but, Lord! to see how fraile a man I am, subject to my vanities, that can hardly forbear, though pressed with never so much business, my pursuing of pleasure, but home I got, and there very busy very late. Among other things consulting with Mr. Andrews about our Tangier business, wherein we are like to meet with some trouble, and my Lord Bellasses’s endeavour to supplant us, which vexes my mind; but, however, our undertaking is so honourable that we shall stand a tug for it I think. So home to supper and to bed.

Captain Edward Nixon, of the “Elizabeth,” and Captain John Stanesby, of the “Eagle.” John Lanyon wrote to the Navy Commissioners from Plymouth, May 16th: “Understands from the seamen that the conduct of Captains Nixon and Stanesby in their late engagement with two Dutch capers was very foul; the night they left the Dutch, no lights were put out as formerly, and though in sight of them in the morning, they still kept on their way; the Eagle lay by some time, and both the enemy’s ships plied on her, but finding the Elizabeth nearly out of sight she also made sail; it is true the wind and sea were high, but there were no sufficient reasons for such endeavours to get from them.” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664-65, p. 367). Both captains were tried; Nixon was condemned to be shot but Stanesby was cleared, and Charnock asserts that he was commander the “Happy Return” in 1672. ↩

"and there was before the King (who ever now calls me by my name)"Our boy Sam is no stranger to the King. He was on the ship that brought Charles II back from Holland in 1660, and on 24 May reported "I was called to write a pass for my Lord Mandeville to take up horses to London, which I wrote in the King’s name, and carried it to him to sign, which was the first and only one that ever he signed in the ship Charles." Sam reported with some pride when they got back to London (9 June) that he met the King in Green Park. I was under the impression that Sam talked with the King, but there seems to be some doubt that the King noticed Sam at that time.In the earlier entries, Sam was just a secretary to Lord Montagu, but now the King is taking notice of Sam for his own work.

"...but, Lord! to see how fraile a man I am, subject to my vanities, that can hardly forbear, though pressed with never so much business, my pursuing of pleasure, but home I got, and there very busy very late."

Details, Sam! What foul delights and pleasures of the world are we missing out on here?!

"The Greatest Play Since 'Siege of RhodesII', sir. Come on in and have a gander at our Nelly!"

Richard Nixon served with distinction as officer US Navy in the Pacific WWII. His great-grandfather, with the 73rd Ohio, bled to death in nightlong agony on the Emmitsburg Pike, Gettysburg defending the Republic from Democrats.

To be sentenced be one thing, but , a Pardon could have saved the use of a bullet, as he be commissioned and the king did not want to decommission, if he had been one of the lessors then it would have been an immediate garratting and over the the side he would have gone.